Timing device



.Oct. 24, 1939. E. s. GLOVER 2,117,102

TIMING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 24, 1939. EsGLovEg 2,117,102

TIMING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jmmtoc /fl Edward 65 6702 67 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMING DEVICE Edward S. Glover, Bristol, Tenn.

Application February 25, 1937, Serial No. 127,790

5 Claims.

This invention relates to timing devices and particularly to timers for games played in timed periods.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel timer for this purpose wherein means are provided for indicating each period of the play and other means are provided for indicating the playing time remaining in any period.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of such a timer wherein the return of the time indicator to its starting position after completion of one period of play will automatically eifect operation of the period indicator and shift the said period indicator from a position indicating one period to a position indicating the next successive period.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of such a. timer wherein the construction embodies an audible signal effectively operated by arrival of the time indicating device upon completion of each playing period.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel return mechanism for the time indicating device of such a timer.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a timer of this class with an electric motor for the driving mechanism of such a timer, the motor having a circuit which may be opened to render the timer inoperative during intermissions in the play.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the section being on a smaller scale than Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a diagram showing certain electrical instrumentalities and their wiring connections as used in this invention, and

Figure '7 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the track bar 26.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated the device has been shown for use in connection with a game having four periods of a play such as are called quarters in basket ball,

each period being of fifteen minutes in duration. It will be plain, from what follows, that devices embodying the same principles of construction may be arranged for other numbers of playing periods and other durations of such periods.

As here shown there is provided a casing having a bottom H], front wall ll, rear wall l2, and end walls l3. Mounted on the rear wall adjacent one end. of the casing is a bracket l4 whereon is secured a motor l5 having a shaft l6. On the shaft H3 is fixed a worm H which meshes with a worm-wheel I8. Adjacent each end wall I3 is aplate l9 and in these plates is journalled the end portions of a shaft 20 having the wormwheel l8 fixed thereon. This shaft 20 is threaded to form a screw for purposes presently set forth. Also journalled in the plates i9 is a second screw 2| which projects at one end through an end wall 13 and the projecting end is provided with a knurled screw-head 22 by which the screw 2| may be turned. A sleeve 23 is slidably mounted on the screw 2| so that the sleeve may slide smoothly along the screw and may also turn thereon. The screw 2| is spaced close to the rear wall l2 while the screw 20 is spaced considerably further forward, being slightly nearer the front wall [I than the rear wall l2. Projecting forwardly from the sleeve 23 is an arm 24 which extends over the screw 2| and is provided on its under side with a half-nut 25 engageable with the screw 20 to cause the arm 24 and sleeve 23 to traverse the rear screw 2| as the screw 20 is rotated. By rocking the arm 24 upwardly the half-nut 25 is freed from the screw 20, thus permitting the sleeve and arm to freely traverse the screw 2|.

Means are provided to lift the half-nut from the screw 28 at one end of its movement along the screw and to hold it elevated during its return movement. To this end. a track bar 26 is fixed within the casing to extend along the front part thereof close tothe front wall H. Adjacent one end the track bar is provided with a slot 21. Fixed to the floor or bottom H) of the casing is a leaf spring 28 which inclines upwardly and laterally in the direction of movement of the bar under the influence of the screw 20. The free end of the spring extends up into the slot 21 and terminates about flush with the upper face of the track bar 26. Projecting forwardly from the arm 24 is a nose 23 and the spring 28 is positioned in the path of this nose so that, as the arm 24 moves under the influence of the screw 20, this nose engages the spring 28 and travels upwardly thereon through the slot 21. It is to be observed that the upper face of the bar 26, at one side of this slot, is bevelled as at 30.

Mounted on the rear wall I2 is a post 3| whereon is revolvably mounted a drum 32. Within this drum there is provided a spirally wound spring 33 the inner end of which is anchored to the post 3| while its outer end is fixed to a pin 34 carried by the drum. Wound on the drum 32 is a cable 35 which has its free end connected by a clip 38 to the arm 24. Thus, when the arm is moved by the screw 28 the cable unwinds from the drum and the spring 33 is wound up. Upon the nose 29 engaging the spring arm 28 the arm 24 is tilted until, just as the nose rises through the slot 27, into position above the track bar 26, the half-nut 25 releases from the screw 28 and the drum, under action of the spring 33, rewinds the cable 35 and thus pulls the arm along the screw 2| towards its starting position. The track bar 26, in addition to the slot 21, is provided with other slots 3'! spaced along its extent at preferably equal distances. Each of the slots is inclined to the upper face so that, as the nose 29, moves along the track bar under the influence of the spring 33, it will skip over these slots without dropping therethrough unless its motion be checked at some one of the slots. In order to effect checking of the return movement of the arm 24 by the spring 33 there is provided a T slot 39 extending along the inner face of the back or rear wall l2. On the screw 2! is mounted a nut 49 having a head 4| which slidably fits the slot 39. By turning the head 22 the screw 2| is rotated and the nut 40 will travel along the screw and may thus be positioned at such a point in the path of the sleeve 23 that the arm 24 will be in position for its nose 29 to drop through a selected slot 31. This, of course, permits reengagement of the half-nut 25 with the screw 2|].

. The action of these parts, during operation of the gaged from the screw 29 and the nose 29 is positioned to ride on the track bar 26, return of the arm 24 by the spring 33 until the sleeve 23 strikes the adjustable stop nut 48, and dropping of the nose 29 through a slot 31 and reengagement of the half-nut 25 with the screw 20.

In the front wall [I is provided a longitudinal slot 42 above which is a graduated scale 43 the divisions of which indicate time periods and fractions thereof, the scale indicating minutes and quarters of minutes. Attached to the free end of the arm 24 is a pointer or index 44 which projects through the slot 42 and traverses the scale 43 from right to left while the scale divisions increase in numbering from left to right. By this means the index 44 directly indicates the remaining time for play in the period being played and not the elapsed time of play. Thus, Figure 1 shows that about 13 minutes are left for play, from a 15 minute period. Since the rotation of the screw must be at a uniform speed at all times, it is preferred that the motor be a synchronous motor although any desired means may be employed to insure uniformity in the R. P. M. of the motor. It will also be noted that the under face of the bar 26 is beveled at the sides of the slots 31 opposite the beveled portions 38, as shown at 45, to prevent catching of the nose 29 as the arm 24 is advanced by the screw 20.

Fixed to the floor or bottom [0 centrally of the length of the casing is a bracket 45 having a bearing 41 formed on its upper end. Journalled in the bearing 41 is a shaft 48 on the forward end of which is fixed a spider 49 supporting a period indicating disk 59 having period indicia 5| shown on its forward face so that they may be successively observed through a sight window 52 in the front wall I Extending radially from the disk 50 are arms 53 spaced equally about the disk and equalling in number to the number of period indicia 5|. These arms are so positioned that one arm will always lie in the path of the inner portion of the index 44 on the arm 24 on its raised return movement and will be engaged by said index 44 shortly after the start on such return movement to cause a partial rotation of the disc 59. As here shown there is provision for four playing periods or quarters. Obviously other than a full return movement of the arm 24 will not necessarily fail to effect the proper rotation of the disk 50 to display the period number in advance of that previously observable through the window 52. In order that the disk 50 may be caused to properly rotate through the desired arc and be held against accidental movement after being turned to display the proper character through the window 52, mechanism is provided such as is illustrated in detail in Figure 5. This mechanism includes a cam 54 having a series of low spots 55 and a series of high spots 56 alternating with the low spots and equal in number to the arms 53. A bracket 5! is fixed to the rear wall l2 and a lever 58 has one end pivoted to this bracket. On the remaining end of this lever is revolvably mounted a roller 59 which rests on the cam 53. A tension spring 60 has one end fixed to the lever 58 and extends downwardly therefrom to have its lower end fixed to a post 6| carried by the rear wall I2. By rea son of this arrangement the cam 54 will, as its rotation starts upon the return movement of the arm 24, cause the lever 58 to lift until the roller 59 rises over the adjacent high spot 56 whereupon the spring 60 will pull the lever down until the roller 59 rests on the succeeding low spot 55, thus forcing the disc around and holding the disk 55 until it is again moved by the index 44. It will be obvious that the cam may be properly designed to effect this purpose no matter how many periods are to be indicated.

In order to provide signalling means for the ends of periods there is mounted on the fioor or bottom I!) a circuit closer 62, comprising a bracket 62a to which is secured a spring arm 63 carrying an insulating block 64 provided with spaced terminals 65. One of these terminals constitutes a fixed contact while the other terminal carries a spring contact arm 66 which extends across the fixed contact and into the path .of a lug 24a on the arm 24 at the end of the advancing movement of the latter, the circuit closer thus formed being normally open. An adjusting screw 61 is screwed through the bracket 52 and engages the spring arm 64 to fiex the latter and thus adjust the position of the spring contact 66 with relation to the termination of the advancing movement of the arm 24. A gong or bell 18 is mounted on one end of the casing. As shown in Figure 6 a current source 69 such as a pair of house Wires has the motor l5 and gong 68 connected in multiple to one side of the current source by wiring 10. The motor and gong are also connected in multiple to the other side of the current source by wiring H, the circuit closer B2 is in series with the gong. A lamp 12 for illuminating the scale 43 and the indicia 5|, also to indicate whether or not the device is in operation, is connected in multiple with the motor.

In order that the motor |5 may be automatically stopped at the end of a period, also in order that it may be stopped and started at will, by 1 the time-keeper, the wiring H passes through switches 13 and H, both of which are of the three-way snap type. The switch 13 is of the rotary type and being attached to the rear wall [2 with its operating means connected to the adjacent end of the shaft 48 so as to be operated thereby each time said shaft makes a partial rotation, at the end of a playing period, which operation breaks the circuit to the motor and the other electrically operated elements. The switch 14 is positioned at any convenient point. By means of this, the time-keeper may control the current through the wiring Ii so as to stop and start the apparatus during the course of play, as for taking out time. Also by means of this switch, the apparatus may be started at the beginning of a period of play by snapping it to cause the current to flow through either the wire Ha or lib, according to the position the switch 13 will have assumed at the end of the preceding period of play. In Figure 6, the switches l3 and 14 are set for operating the device with the current passing through the wire l lb.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the index 4 slowly traverses the scale 43 during each playing period until it reaches its left extremity of travel, at which time the gong rings and the index M then returns rapidly to its starting point, carried by the arm 24. As the index returns, it imparts a partial rotation to the disk 50 so as to shift another period indication into position for observation through the window 52 and. so as to operate the switch 1'3, through the medium of the shaft 48, to stop the operation of the entire device.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timer for games played in a plurality of periods of definite time duration, time indieating means including an index and a time scale traversed thereby, a motor, a feed screw extending parallel to said scale and driven by said motor, a support extending parallel to said feed screw, an arm for said index carried by said support and slidably and rockingly mounted thereon, said arm extending across said feed screw and provided with threads engaging said feed screw, a guide rail provided with a plurality of slots two of which are at the respective ends of the path of the index, said arm moving beneath said guide rail during engagement with the feed screw, camming means for raising the arm through the slot at one end of the path of the index to disengage it from the screw and to rest it on said guide rail, and means for returning the index and arm to the other end of the path whereby to permit the arm to drop through the slot at the last mentioned end and to engage the feed screw.

2. In a timer for games played in a plurality of periods of definite time duration, time indicating means including an index and a time scale traversed thereby, a motor, a feed screw extending parallel to said scale and driven by said motor, a support extending parallel to said feed screw, an arm for said index carried by said support and slidably and rockingly mounted thereon, said arm extending across said feed screw and provided with threads engaging said feed screw, a guide rail provided with a plurality of slots two of which are at the respective ends of the path of the index, said arm moving beneath said guide rail during engagement with the feed screw, camming means for raising the arm through the slot at one end of the path of the index to disengage it from the screw and to rest it on said guide rail, means for returning the index and arm to the other end of the path whereby to permit the arm to drop through the slot at the last mentioned end and to engage the feed screw, and means for adjusting the length of the path traversed by said index.

3. In a timer for games played in a plurality of periods of definite time duration, time indicating means including an index and a time scale traversed thereby, a motor, a feed screw extending parallel to said scale and driven by said motor, a stop adjusting screw extending parallel to said feed screw, an for said index carried by said stop adjusting screw and slidably and rockingly mounted thereon, said arm extending across said feed screw and provided with threads engaging said feed screw. means for engaging and disengaging the threads at each end of the path of said index, means for returning the index to initial position upon disengagement of the threads from the feed screw, a non-revolvable nut on the stop adjusting screw forming a stop for said arm, and means to rotate said stop adjusting screw.

l. In a timer for games played in a plurality of periods of definite time duration, time indicating means including an index and a time scale traversed thereby, a motor, a feed screw extending parallel to said scale and driven by said motor, a stop adjusting screw extending parallel to said feed screw, an arm for said index carried by said stop adjusting screw and slidably and rockingly mounted thereon, said arm extending across said feed screw and provided with threads engaging said feed screw, a guide rail provided with a plurality of slots two of which are at the respective ends of the path of the index, said arm moving beneath said guide rail during engagement with the feed screw, camming means for raising the arm through the slot at one end of the path of the index to disengage it from the screw and to rest it on said guide rail, means for returning the index and arm to the other end of the path whereby to permit the arm to drop through the slot at the last mentioned end and to engage the feed screw, a non-revolvable nut on the stop adjusting screw forming a stop for said arm, and means to rotate said stop adjusting screw.

5. In a timer for games played in a plurality of periods of definite time duration, time indicating means including an index and a time scale traversed thereby, motor driven means for moving the index in one direction over the scale from a starting point, spring means for returning the index to the starting point, means for shifting the index between control by the motor driven means and control by the spring means at the ends of the path of movement or" the index over the scale, a movable play period indicator shifted from one position to another by the return movement of said index, and means operated by the movement of the play period indicator for stopping the motor.

EDWARD S. GLOVER. 

